Being the Bay Area’s premier female artist in Traditional/Contemporary Hawaiian music for over a decade, Faith Ako has established her versatile voice along the West Coast. Not only has she won two Hawaiian Music Awards, but has made special guest appearances on Pakele Live! in Honolulu and the Maui Prince Hotel in Kīhei; in addition to sold out shows in California at the Mystic Theatre in Petaluma, Wells Fargo Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa, Yoshi’s in San Francisco and Oakland, the de Young Museum in San Francisco, Whittier College in Los Angeles, and Dougherty Performing Arts Center in San Ramon. Faith’s genuine character has astonished crowds with her sultry tones and innate passion for Hawaiian music. Listening to Faith’s voice will conjure the essence of aloha from the Hawaiian Islands, without the involvement of a plane ride. (www.faithako.com)

Steven Espaniola

It’s rare when an artist arrives on the scene offering a refreshing new spin on a traditional genre of music. Steven Espaniola is that artist. Raised in Aliamanu, Hawai‘i and now residing in the California Bay Area, Steven is a multi-instrumentalist specializing in kī hōʻalu (Hawaiian slack key guitar), ‘ukulele, upright bass, and leo kiʻekiʻe (traditional Hawaiian falsetto). Of Hawaiian, Filipino, and Spanish decent, his ethnicityis as diverse as his unique sound which preserves the integrity of the traditional with a flourish of the modern. His debut recording entitled Ho‘omaka, “to begin”, features a mesmerizing collection of traditional and original Hawaiian mele recorded by Nā Hōkū Hanohano award-winning producer Dave Tucciarone. Ho‘omaka will be sure to transport the listener to the Hawai‘i of yesterday with soaring falsetto vocals, nahenahe slack key guitar and rhythmic ‘ukulele. Steven Espaniola’s highly anticipated debut album will carry you on a musical journey you won’t soon forget. In 2007, Steven's musical efforts earned him the recognition of "New Artist of the Year" at the Hawai'i Music Awards. (www.stevenespaniola.com)

Patrick Landeza

When Patrick Landeza became the first mainland-based artist to win the Nã Hōkū Hanohano award, in 2013, he told the audience that “being born and raised on the mainland never made me any less Hawaiian.” Having initially learned slack key from family, Landeza later apprenticed with Raymond Kāne and was mentored by Cyril Pahinui, George Kuo, and Dennis Kamakahi. He has been the slack key instructor of record at North Carolina’s Swannanoa Gathering, and has taught in classes and music camps nationwide, as well as having lessons published in Acoustic Guitar Magazine. After successful forays into radio, catering, and concert production, Landeza is beginning to focus his attention on future generations. He authored a children’s book, “Danny’s Hawaiian Journey,” and has partnered with Kala Ukulele to provide cultural education through ukulele lessons in his grade school classes. Landeza’s efforts and enthusiasm have not gone unrecognized. Aside from Nā Hōkū Hanohano award, he also became the youngest recipient of the Kapalakiko Aloha Spirit award at the age of 34, in 2011 he won the Hawaiian Music Award, and in 2012 he shared his music and aloha spirit with the audience at Carnegie Hall. (www.patricklandeza.com)

Rick Quan is a two time Emmy award winner. He currently works part time at ABC7 San Francisco as a fill in sports anchor and as the field reporter for the station's "After the Game" college football show. He also runs his own video production service and operates www.asianamericansports.com, a website devoted to profiling Asian American athletes. Before coming to ABC7, Rick worked at the CBS affiliate in San Francisco and KITV, the ABC affiliate in Honolulu.

Contemporary Hawaiian Artist: Weldon Kekauoha

Popular recording artist born and raised in Honolulu, and 2012 Grammy nominee & multi-Nā Hōkū Hanohano award recipient, Weldon Kekauoha is a music artist that carries smooth, island rhythms in his music. Weldon's Hawaiian Man album won him the 2000 Nā Hōkū Hanohano award for Most Promising New Artist. Weldon began playing with the resurrected Manao Company band in 2001 and their album Spread A Little Aloha won the group three Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards. Weldon then formed a group called Tapa Groove. He released an album entitled Kanaka Maoli which was nominated for four Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards. In 2007 Weldon released his third recording, a solo album entitled Ka Lehua Ula. (www.weldonkekauoha.com)

Nā Lei Hulu I Ka Wēkiu's dynamic SF-based dance company presents hula as a full theatrical experience that blends traditional and contemporary forms of Hawaiian Dance. Founded in 1985 by Director/Kumu Hula Patrick Makuakāne, the company is known for its unique contemporary style called hula mua, or "hula that evolves." The style blends traditional movements with non-Hawaiian music like opera, electronic, dance, alternative, and pop. Both hula mua and authentic, traditional pieces are showcased in the company's visually captivating stage productions. The dance company has performed in locations throughout California, and has also presented its work in Honolulu, Washington D.C., New Orleans, New York, Las Vegas, and Japan. Nā Lei Hulu I Ka Wēkiu celebrates their 30th anniversary in October 2015 with performances at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre in San Francisco. (www.naleihulu.org)